The True Cost of Console Ownership in 2009

[Accordion]

what a mess.

Four controllers is questionable, but the charging station on PS3 is absurd given any powered USB slot is a charging station.

I think a wifi adapter should be on the 360, as well as the ehternet adapter for the Wii.

[sorceror]

Besides that I thought the usb ports on the front of the PS3 was for charging the remotes.. lol

Exactly. I plug 'em in and run Life With Playstation overnight. Charges the controllers and helps biology research at the same time.

(Plus, for less than $15 I got a PS2-to-USB adapter that lets me use two wired PS2 controllers - which I already had - with my PS3. So, one extra PS3 controller, and two PS2 controllers, and bang - four player LBP action. :-> )

[MicroNut]

360 vs. PS3 vs. Wii hardware problems should also be considered in the total cost of ownership.

[fishears]

This whole story is $#@!!

Why are 4 Motion Pluses included? They are not required for any games.

Take off that $80 and the Wii comes out cheapest.

This is $#@!, pure $#@!!

[ICE]

The point is how much a fully loaded console costs. Wii Motion Plus is included because if it wasnt the Wii wouldnt have everything. A PS3 with no charging dock can still charge its remotes. A Wii with no Motion Plus cant play certain game modes.

[apex05]

What really matters is you can spec the Xbox360 how you want, £130 if you just want to play games against £300 minimum for a Ps3, then with the Xbox360 you can upgrade as your needs grow.

[chuggman]

Let's make some other assumptions like You don't need to pay that much... and like 2 controllers is enough most the time. also what about downloadable games and stuff!

Playstation 3
Cost of console: $400 (80GB) new current PS3 without PS2 capabilities means either keep old ps2 or to buy a ps2 for ps2 games. I have 20GB PS3 which means ps2 but no wifi
Cost of 1 extra controller: $60
Cost of 2 cheap maybe used games: $ 60
HD Cable=$10
optional 20$ for PS store= 20$
Total: $530/$550

Wii
Cost of console: $250
Cost of 1 extra controllers: $40
Cost of 1 Nunchuks: $20
cost of 2 classic controller: $40
Cost of 2 Wii Motion Pluses: ?? not released
Cost of recharge battery kit w/ 2 AA batteries: $20
cost of 4 AA recharge battery 10$ (this always gives a set of 2 extra batteries charging which is a plus)
Cost of 2 cheap used games: $60
SD card optional: up to 100$ 32GB
HD component 480p cable: 10$
Nintendo point card 20$ optional
Total: $450/$470/$570/570+ motion plus... $500 probably most realistic.

Xbox 360
Cost of console: $300 (60GB)
Cost of 1 extra controllers: $40
Cost of recharge battery kit w/ 2 AA batteries: $20
cost of 4 AA recharge battery 10$ (this always gives a set of 2 extra batteries charging which is a plus)Cost of 2 used cheap games: $60
Cost of Xbox Live membership: $60 (13 months+xboxlivearcadegame or two 20$ optional)
different HD cable than one included like HDMI for upconverting DVDs $10 Optional
Total: $470/$500 if membership is optional than - another 40$.


So this is really stupid trying to calculate this because as humans we have lots of options. If our budget really calls for it we can slash the HD cables, on the x360 we could slash the 60GB HDD and only use system to play native xbox360 games. The wii could slash a lot of assesories.
Truly the 2 systems for managing a reasonable budget on would be the 200$ 360 and the 250$ wii. the PS3 is still most expensive. though the 80$ wifi for xbox 360 is a joke too. Also to take advantage of of xbox certain games xbox 360 features requires the membership. this is just like the wii motion plus. if you don't play or use a feature you don't need to pay for it.

[Malksta]

$25 for charging station? You can charge controllers on the console itself, your laptop, or your PC.

[Triv1um]

Haha, when I brought my PS3 (UK release date) it cost me about £550 just for the console, 1 pad and 2 games. Haha.

How times have changed.

[DKing]

This comparison is fairly meaningless at least for me. I don't need/want half the stuff listed. I went with a 360 Arcade console for $160 (Thanks Dell), add an extra controller for $40 (Play & Charge kit which got me a USB recharger) and a 120GB hard drive for $120. $320 and I was good to go! Games also aren't $60 unless you buy new releases. Can find older stuff or used games for all consoles for a lot less than what they have in this chart.

Oh and I did buy another video cable for HD. Forgot how much it was but wasn't a whole lot.